Wow. Now this is cool. Modern+Vintage combined=Awesome in T206 (2009)

[quinnsryche]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

I would be interested to see the thought process that goes into making a relic subset like this.

Remember, this is Topps, the inclusion of a thought process would be welcome by ALL collectors!

[PolarBear]

Topps Allen & Ginter is the best modern "vintage" set in my opinion. They seem to have gotten the vintage "look" pretty close to the originals. The other sets fall short, some pretty far short.

Unfortunately though, other than the 2006 set, there aren't many retired players in the A&G sets, but they have included several Negro Leaguers the past few years. All living I think, so they can do auto's also.

The UD Masterpieces set was also very good and included many retired players. Unfortunately, they discontinued the product. Some great looking cards in that set though.

I wish they'd do an A&G HOF set, now that would be awsome.

[quinnsryche]

Upper Deck issued a Goodwin Champions series in 2009 which was somewhat attractive. They also had redemptions for authentic buybacks of (at least) King Kelly (SGC A), Cap Anson (SGC A) and a Jack Dempsey (PSA 4). You can see photos of those 3 cards on the Upper Deck website under Goodwin Champions and then the 411 product info option.

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by PolarBear

Topps Allen & Ginter is the best modern "vintage" set in my opinion. They seem to have gotten the vintage "look" pretty close to the originals.

I totally agree that the Topps Allen & Ginter set is the best looking modern "vintage set". I had a 2007 Tim Lincecum Topps A&G RC slabbed a 98 by SGC. The vintage look, and the way the card presents in the slab makes it one of my favorite cards.

Originally Posted by PolarBear

I wish they'd do an A&G HOF set, now that would be awsome.

I don't buy much modern if any at all, but that would be something I would like to see as well.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by quinnsryche

Remember, this is Topps, the inclusion of a thought process would be welcome by ALL collectors!

Yeah, but it's a shame. They keep pumping out these faux vintage sets. And they had a decent idea here combining card with autograph in a display. But I just feel like they could have developed it a little more.

If you doing research on putting together an autographed T206 relic subset, the first thing you would learn is that Marquard died in 1980 and signed everything in sight including a slew of T206 cards. Given this, it is just surprising in my mind that they opted not to include one in this set -- or at least a 3x5 cut with the buyback T206. Ditto Snodgrass and Doyle, both of whom are also not featured here. This makes the subset sort of random, to me, which makes the subset less interesting as a collectible group.

If you gave me $500 at a decent vintage card show (or on ebay, frankly), in a couple of hours I could get you half a dozen more autographs of T206 players on 3x5s as well as their respective T206 cards -- in addition to Sno and Doyle, you'd at least get Meyers, Bush, McBride and Rucker.

Topps could have spent a couple more hours and hardly any more money and done a lot more with this subset, is all I'm saying.

[quinnsryche]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

Yeah, but it's a shame.

The real shame is going to local shows and 95% of the dealers (and collectors) don't have a clue who these older players are. Heck, I hear the mispronunciation of numerous current players names that anyone who watches 5 mins. of baseball would know. We all know why the card companies keep issuing Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, Wagner etc. cards over and over, they sell because they are the only ones anyone knows anymore. Kids don't read the backs of cards and study stats and learn the history. They know the names by what we say or what is mentioned in passing. My son (10 yrs. old) has a phenominal modern card collection and barely knows who plays for who or at what position. That's my fault I guess but I can't force him to learn, he has to want to himself.
Sorry for the rant, that's just my opinion.

[Al C.risafulli]

I've got to throw in some props for Topps here.

My youngest son is 9. He's seen me collecting cards, but has never shown any interest whatsoever, until just recently. This past year he's gotten into baseball quite a bit, and read the book "Babe and Me" by Dan Gutman, a great book about a kid who can be transported back in time by touching a pre-1950 baseball card.

A few weeks ago he found a stash of shiny stuff that my oldest son (14) had when he was younger, but was never really intrigued by, and suddenly he decided he wanted to start collecting.

I bought him a box of 2009 Topps, and couldn't believe the stuff Topps is doing to get kids interested.

First, they have a whole internet component. In each pack of cards, there's one pack with a code number on it. You log in to ToppsTown.com and create a free account, and then you create your own avatar. Then, as you enter these code numbers, it unlocks a "virtual" binder of cards that includes stars of today, and of the past.

Then, you can use these virtual cards to play an actual game against someone else who's online. It's a simulated game, so you've got to actually choose your players based on their skill levels - so there's an incentive to get to learn who the better players are. And since they include players like Gehrig and Cobb, the kids are being introduced to the all-time greats that way.

As the kids are entering these code numbers, they're accumulating points that they can use to "buy" things for their avatar - my son bought a Yankee jersey for his, and some decorations for the avatar's "clubhouse."

If that wasn't enough, the cards themselves are pretty beautiful, and they've included some historic players in the set. THe #7 card in the set is Mickey Mantle. So when J pulled the Mantle card out of a pack, he was blown away.

But then they've got these "Legends of the Game" insert cards as well. You should have heard the gasp when he pulled a Babe Ruth card, and then said "One more, Dad, and I'll have as many Babe Ruths as you do!"

He also pulled a Cobb, a Roy Campanella, Thurman Munson, Jimmy Foxx, and Ted Williams. Each time one of those cards came out of the pack, he asked me who the player was, and what made him special enough to be included in the set.

My son sorted all 300-something cards into numerical order by himself (asking me the whole time what was the right way to do it), and then put them into a binder. That binder hasn't left his side in days.

Yesterday he dug out the "Shoeless Joe and Me" book, and then asked me if we could start watching the Ken Burns Baseball series that I have on DVD.

I've got to say that the way Topps is going about this has had a big impact on how my son's interest levels are growing. As he's getting these cards, and being exposed to these older players on the internet, he wants to learn more. It's amazing, really.

It's really easy, I think, for folks like us to sit back and criticize how the modern companies are treating the history of the game. But most of us are students of the game's history, who have been at it for years. When a 9-year-old kid opens a shiny new pack of cards, he wants Albert Pujols, or Derek Jeter. He doesn't want Lena Blackburne. So the way Topps is slowly indoctrinating these kids is, I think, fantastic.

-Al

[drc]

I don't recall the exact brand name, put I picked up a pack of I think 2007 Topps something rather at the local drug store where the base cards were retro-1959 Topps. Not only did it have a stick of gum, but the cards were genuinely like 1950s cards, down to the 1950-style cardboard. I was impressed-- and these are the one cent base cards I'm talking about.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by drc

I don't recall the exact brand name, put I picked up a pack of I think 2007 Topps something rather at the local drug store where the base cards were retro-1959 Topps. Not only did it have a stick of gum, but the cards were genuinely like 1950s cards, down to the 1950-style cardboard. I was impressed-- and these are the one cent base cards I'm talking about.

Topps Heritage. They do it every year. They started in 2001 with 1952 style and every year, do the next heritage style. 2010 will be like 1961 Topps. The 1959 would have been 2008.

[Orioles1954]

I follow the modern baseball card hobby a bit. It seems the only products which sell are the "retro" themed and really shiny cards of high school players who were just drafted. Everything else pretty much falls by the wayside. Next month Topps is releasing "National Chicle" which has both Diamond Stars and Batter-Up designs. Heck, last year an attempt at Obak was made (a pretty pathetic one if that) by a minor manufacturer.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

He doesn't want Lena Blackburne.

That's another easy to find 3x5!

But your point is well taken. When my kids are a little bit older, I'll be counting on Topps to help me bring my kids up to speed on card collecting and baseball history.